Starting system for motor boats



April 25, 1967 C. W. VAN RANST STARTING SYSTEM FOR MOTOR BOATS Filed Nov.

524 i D 70 J32 INVENTOR. Kama/us fi/ VAN FAA/5T United States Patent 3,315,584 STARTING SYSTEM FOR MOTOR BOATS Cornelius W. Van Ranst, 15692 Woodland, Dearborn, Mich. 48120 Filed Nov. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 411,386 7 Claims. (Cl. 98-1) The present invention relates to a starting system for motor boats and cruisers, and more particularly to such a system which is adapted to prevent explosions in the engine room when starting a boat or cruiser.

In motor boats and cruise-rs having internal combustion engines which are located in closed engine compartments, explosive mixtures of gasoline or diesel fumes and air sometimes accumulate in these closed compartments. Such fumes are apt to occur for a variety of reasons, such as leaks in fuel lines, leaks in tanks, or even gasoline fumes which may escape from the carburetor.

The danger of such explosions is greatest when a boat has been idle for some period of time and when the boat operator has attempted to start the engine without properly ventilating the compartment. Under these circumstances, a spark created while starting the engine may cause a violent explosion which will completely destroy the boat, or at least, will cause an explosion or fire which may be extremely dangerous to the passengers aboard the vessel.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to increase the safety of motor boats by providing an improved starting system which will substantially, if not completely, eliminate the possibility of an explosion in the engine compartment during the time when the engine is being started.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved starting system of the foregoing character which includes a blower for automatically removing gaseous fumes from the engine compartment, should such fumes be present at the time when it is desired to use the starting system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved starting system of the foregoing character which is constructed and arranged to include a sensing element which will automatically prevent connection of the starting circuit, including the electric starter, and will energize the circuit containing the blower, so that the blower will remove the dangerous fumes from the engine compartment.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved starting system of the foregoing character which is constructed and arranged so that if no dangerous fumes are present in the engine compartment, or after such dangerous fumes have been exhausted from the compartment, the sensing device will automatically permit the electric starter to be energized, thereby enabling the operator to start the propulsion engine of the vessel in the normal manner.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a small marine vessel equipped with the present invention, part of the hull of the vessel being broken away to show the engine compartment;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic wiring diagram of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one form of a sensing element that may be used with the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawing, the invention will be described in greater detail. The marine vessel 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a closed engine room compartment 12 within which is mounted a conventional marine engine 14 which has, for starting purposes, a conventional electrical starting motor 16. In a forward compartment 18 is located a conventional electric battery 20. The electric starting motor 16 and battery 20 are electrically connected to a starting switch 22 in a manner to be described. Also located in the forward compartment 18 is an electric motor 24 which is adapted to drive the blower 26, the latter being located in the engine compartment 12 so that it can exhaust gaseous fumes from the compartment 12 through the exhaust duct 28 to the outside atmosphere. Also located in the engine compartment 12 is a gas sensing element 30 which will also be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the electric circuitry of the starting system will be described.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the starter motor 16 is in a starting circuit with the battery 20, which circuit cannot be closed until a time delay of approximately 10 to 15 seconds occurs between closing of the starting switch 22 and energizing of the starter motor 16. This time delay is provided to assure that the gas sensing control circuit including sensing element 30 has had adequate time to function in the intended manner so that no current can flow to starter motor 16, even momentarily, if unwanted hydrocarbon fumes or gases are present in the engine compartment 12.

The time delay circuit includes ground 32, battery 20, conductor 34 between battery 29 and starting switch 22, conductor 36 to the solenoid operated switch 38, conductor 40 through the time delay switch means 42 to ground 32. Also as part of the time delay circuit is the conductor 44 which is connected to conductor 40 and extends in parallel therewith through the normally open bimetallic switch element 46, which when caused to be heated by the winding 48 in conductor 40, will close against contact 50 so as to close the circuit via conductor 51 through solenoid coil 52 and conductor 54 to ground 32. Thus, it can be seen that when the starting switch 22 is initially closed, the time delay circuit normally will be to close after a time delay the normally open starter switch 56 across contacts 58, by virtue of solenoid 52 being energized.

The starter switch 56 is in the starting circuit for motor 16 and closing of this switch will have the desired effect of energizing motor 16. The starting circuit includes ground 32, battery 20, conductor 34, conductor 60 conto switch 56, conductor 62 to starting motor 16, and conductor 64 which is connected to motor 16 and leads to ground 32. Thus, in normal operation, the starting circuit will not be energized until approximately 10 to 15 seconds after closing of starting switch 22, this time delay being realized by the operation of time delay switch means 42 which controls the time of closing of switch 56 in the starting circuit.

The present starting system also includes a blower circuit with hydrocarbon gas sensing means for controlling operation of this circuit and for opening the time delay circuit described above, so as to prevent starting of motor 16 until all hydrocarbon gases have been removed from the compartment in which they have been detected. Re-

cannot occur before switch element position across contacts 66.

. 38 closes across contacts 66,

' invention.

3 ferring to FIGS. 2 and 3, this circuitry will now be described.

.The blower circuit includes the battery 20, conductor 34 to starting switch 22, conductor 36 from switch 22 to switch 38, which is normally open across contacts 66, conductor 68 which is connected to conductor 70, and the latter is connected to blower 24 which inturn is connected to battery 20 via the ground 32. It will be observed that switch 38, which is normally open in the blower circuit, is normally closed in the time delay circuit, previously described. Thus, blower 24 will not be energized during the starting operation unless switch 38 is closed in the starting circuit, and such action will result in the time delay circuit being held open thereby preventing the starting motor 16 from being energized at any time while the blower 24 is in operation.

.The gas sensing control circuit for selectively controlling operation of the blower circuit or the time delay circuit will now be described. The gas sensing element or device 30 is connected in the sensing control circuit which includes battery 20,conductor 34, switch 22, conductor 36, conductor 72 extending from conductor 36 to sensing device 30, conductor 74 extending from sensing device 30 to solenoid 76 and from there to ground 32. If the gas sensing element 30 is electrically open, then the switch 38 will remain in the position shown in FIGURE 2 and the normal starting operation described above for energizing starter motor 16 will occur. However, if gas sensing element 30 is electrically closed because of the presence of hydrocarbon gases in compartment '12, the solenoid 76 will be energized causing switch element 38 to close across the normally open contacts 66, thereby energizing the blower 24 and causing the time delay switch means 42 to be. deenergized. Thus, it can be understood the the blower 24 will remain in operation for so long as the gas sensing element 30 remains electrically closed because of the presence of hydrocarbon gases in the compartment 12, and when the compartment'is exhausted of such hydro-. carbon gases, the gas sensing element 30 will become electrically open, thereby causing solenoid 76' to be deenergized which in turn will cause switch element 38 to return to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, and the normal starting of starter motor 16, can thenroccur. Also, in view of the fact that even a momentary flow of current to the motor 16 can causean undesired spark or turning of the motor, the time delay switch means'42'is provided to assure that such momentary flow of current to motor 16 For the'convenience of the operator of the boat or cruiser 10, a warning light is provided to indicate when the blower 24 is in operation, thus indicating that a danger condition exists in the engine room. a For this purpose a lamp 78 has been placed in parallel with the blower 24 by means of the conductor 80 which is connected to conductor 68 from one of contacts 66. Thus, when switch element a circuit is closed including battery 20, conductor 34, switch 22, conductor 36 to switch 38, conductors 68 and 80, lamp 78 and ground 32. The lamp 78 preferably will be located adjacent to the switch '22 so that it will be readily visible to the operator of the boat 10; V r

It is to be understood that any ofthe conventional gas sensing devices now known may be used with, the present One such device is disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,786,195. As shown in FIGURE 3, such as gas sensing element 30 includes a bi-metallic switch element 82 which has the property of bending when subjected to temperature changes. In this.embodi-. "ment, as the temperature increases,

the bi-metallic stn'p bends causing the contact 84 to' engage the contact 86 closing the circuit through gas sensing element 30. Attached to the ibi-met-allic strip 82 is sponge platinum 88, which has the property of becoming heated when exposed to hydrocarbon gases or hydrogen, thus functioning to 38 can be moved to the for energizing from said source cuit or said second circuit, a circuit associatedlwith saidfirst circuit and including'time delay meansrfor preventing said first circuit from being energized until said control to function for the purpose cause the bi-metallic strip 82 to bend and close the circuit through gas sensing element 39, if hydrocarbon gases are present in compartment 12. It is to be understood, how ever, that any other gas sensing device may be employed in the present starting system without departing present invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a motor boat having an engine compartment enclosing an internal combustion engine, starting system comprising an electric starter motorfor starting said engine, a source of electrical energy, a normally open starter motor switch connected in circuit'with said starter motor and said source, an electrical time delay means coupled to said starter motor switch for closing said delay means for energizing .the time delay means when the starting switch is closed, -a normally open gas sensing switch device positioned in said compartment and adapted to close so as to be electrically conductive when a predetermined amount of hydrocarbon gas is present in the ambient atmosphere, and electrically operated blower positioned to ventilate said compartmentand connected in a normally open electrical circuit with said source, and a gas sensing control circuit including said gas sensing switch device and said starting switch and responsive to closing of said gas sensing switch'device when said starting switch is closed for opening the circuit containing said time delay switch means and thereby maintaining open said starter motor switch and for closing the normally open circuit containing said blower and said source.

2. In a motor boat having an engine compartment enclosing an internal combustion engine, a safety enginestarting system according to claim 1 which includes a warning means which is energized when said blower is in operation.

3. In a motor boat having an engine compartment en closing an internal combustion engine, an engine starting system comprising a first circuit including a starter motor for starting said engine, a second circuit including an electrically driven blower for removing combustible gases from said compartment, a source of electrical energy, and a control circuit including means responsive to the hydrocarbon content of the ambient atmosphere in'said com-j; partment for selectively energizing, from said source either said first circuit or said second circuit in accordance with whether said hydrocarbon content is within allowable limits or in excess of such limits, respectively.

closing an trically driven blower for from a selected compartment electrical energy,'and a control circuit including a sensing. element responsive to the absence. or presence of combust- 7 ible gases in the ambient atmosphere in said compartment respectively said first circircuit has had an opportunity of selecting thei'circuit to be energized.

5. In a motor boat having an engine compartment enclosing an internal combustion engine, an engine starting starter motor for said engine, a

system comprising a source of electrical energy, a normally open starter motor switch connected in circuit with said starter motorand' said source, time delay means for closing said motor switch a predetermined time after saidtime delay means 1 is energized, a normally open starting switch connected in circuit with said source and said time delay means for energizing said time delay switch when the starting switch is closed, an electric powered blower connected in circuit from the a safety enginewith said source and said starting switch, and a gas sensing control circuit including a gas sensing element located in said compartment and said starting switch operable when said starting switch is closed and hydrocarbon gas above a predetermined amount is present in 'ambient atmosphere to open the circuit containing said time delay means so that said motor switch remains open and to close the circuit between said blower and said source of electrical energy.

6. In a motor boat having an engine compartment enclosing an internal combustion engine, an engine starting system according to claim 5 wherein said gas sensing control circuit is operable when said starting switch is closed and hydrocarbon gas is absent from the ambient atmosphere to maintain open the circuit between said blower 1 and said source of energy and to close the circuit between said starting switch, said source and said time delay means.

7. In a motor boat having an engine compartment enclosing an internal combustion engine, an engine starting system according to claim 6, including a warning means to indicate when said blower is in operation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,387,848 8/ 1921 Good 123-179 2,142,210 1/1939 Rippingille 123-179 10 2,356,392 8/1944 Fluor 114-211 2,526,446 10/ 1950 Zurit et a1 30710 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,286,531 1/ 1962 France.

MARK NEWMAN, Primary Examiner. LAURENCE M. GOODRIDGE, Examiner. 

1. IN A MOTOR BOAT HAVING AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENCLOSING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, A SAFETY ENGINESTARTING SYSTEM COMPRISING AN ELECTRIC STARTER MOTOR FOR STARTING SAID ENGINE, A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY, A NORMALLY OPEN STARTER MOTOR SWITCH CONNECTED IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID STARTER MOTOR AND SAID SOURCE, AN ELECTRICAL TIME DELAY MEANS COUPLED TO SAID STARTER MOTOR SWITCH FOR CLOSING SAID STARTER MOTOR SWITCH A PRESET TIME PERIOD AFTER SAID TIME DELAY MEANS HAS BEEN ENERGIZED, A NORMALLY OPEN STARTING SWITCH CONNECTED IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID SOURCE AND SAID TIME DELAY MEANS FOR ENERGIZING THE TIME DELAY MEANS WHEN THE STARTING SWITCH IS CLOSED, A NORMALLY OPEN GAS SENSING SWITCH DEVICE POSITIONED IN SAID COMPARTMENT AND ADAPTED TO CLOSE SO AS TO BE ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE WHEN A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF HYDROCARBON GAS IS PRESENT IN THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE, AND ELECTRICALLY OPERATED BLOWER POSITIONED TO VENTILATE SAID COMPARTMENT AND CONNECTED IN A NORMALLY OPEN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WITH SAID SOURCE, AND A GAS SENSING CONTROL CIRCUIT INCLUDING SAID GAS SENSING SWITCH DEVICE AND SAID STARTING SWITCH AND RESPONSIVE TO CLOSING OF SAID GAS SENSING SWITCH DEVICE WHEN SAID STARTING SWITCH IS CLOSED FOR OPENING THE CIRCUIT CONTAINING SAID TIME DELAY SWITCH MEANS AND THEREBY MAINTAINING OPEN SAID STARTER MOTOR SWITCH AND FOR CLOSING THE NORMALLY OPEN CIRCUIT CONTAINING SAID BLOWER AND SAID SOURCE. 